The Rwanda-backed M23 armed group has captured the strategic mining town of Walikale in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), local sources confirmed on Thursday. The takeover occurred late Wednesday, marking the furthest west the anti-government group has advanced since its emergence in 2012.
The seizure comes just days after Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame met in Doha for ceasefire talks mediated by Qatar. While both leaders expressed support for an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire,” no concrete details on its implementation have emerged.
A Congolese military officer told AFP that government forces had retreated to Mubi, approximately 30 kilometers (20 miles) from Walikale, to “avoid human losses.” A second security source confirmed the withdrawal and reported continued fighting in Mubi on Thursday.
Walikale is a crucial mining hub in North Kivu province, home to the world’s third most productive tin mine, operated by Alphamin. The ongoing conflict has forced the company to evacuate employees and halt operations at its Bisie mine, which produces cassiterite, a key tin ore used in electronics manufacturing. The disruption has already driven up tin prices and raised concerns over supply chain stability.
The region also has significant gold mining operations, further intensifying interest in its control.
Residents of Walikale reported seeing armed fighters in the streets, while a civil society representative confirmed M23’s presence in the area. During the fighting, a base operated by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) was caught in the crossfire, though no injuries were reported. MSF has warned of an influx of wounded individuals in the coming days.
The DRC government has long accused Rwanda of supporting the M23 rebels to exploit mineral resources—a claim Kigali denies. However, a United Nations expert report states that Rwanda maintains approximately 4,000 troops in eastern Congo to assist M23.
The ceasefire agreement brokered by Qatar remains uncertain, as it would require the direct involvement of M23 leadership, which was not part of the recent Doha talks. Earlier peace negotiations between Kinshasa and M23, scheduled for Tuesday in Luanda, Angola, were abruptly canceled. The last formal negotiations between the two sides occurred in 2013.
With the situation rapidly evolving, the fall of Walikale signals a deepening crisis in eastern DRC, raising fears of further violence and regional instability.
